Proposals for a Regulation on Accreditation and Market Surveillance and a Decision on a Common Framework for the Marketing of Products - Enhancing the Implementation of the New Approach Directives
Following the Review of the New Approach, the Commission adopted two complimentary Proposals for a Regulation and a Decision. The Proposals are for a Regulation on Accreditation and Market Surveillance which when adopted will have direct effect in Member States, and for a Decision, which will not have direct effect in Member States, but will set a formal framework for future European legislative proposals that fall within its scope. The scope is very broad for both Proposals and includes all products subject to Community harmonisation legislation (with notable exceptions such as food and medicines).
Both Proposals aim to improve the free movement of goods within the Internal Market by streamlining existing mechanisms for the circulation of safe goods. The Proposal for a Regulation will reinforce Market Surveillance structures to protect citizens from unsafe products (including those from outside the EU) and level the playing field for compliant business, by removing those products from the market. It would also enhance confidence in conformity assessment of products by strengthening the role of Accreditation for testing, certification and inspection bodies.
The Proposal for a Decision contains a toolbox of additional measures which will be integrated into the legal framework as specific legislative proposals are brought forward. This will clarify commonly used procedures and terms (which are often used differently) so that all stakeholders can be clear on relative responsibilities. In addition there are new rules to enhance confidence in CE marking.
We initiated a 12-week Consultation on 9 March 2007, closing on 1 June 2007. This sought views and information on likely effects of the Proposals to better inform the negotiating position. An independent firm of consultants have also carried out a UK Regulatory Impact Assessment on behalf of BERR, and this is available from "Related Documents" on the right.
Background Information
On 7 May 2003, the European Commission issued a Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on Enhancing the Implementation of the New Approach Directives. On 10 November 2003, the Competitiveness Council adopted a Council Resolution responding to the Commission’s Communication. The Commission’s Proposals were developed through work on a series of papers through the Senior Officials Group on Standardisation and Conformity Assessment Policy (SOGS). All of which can be found on the Commission’s website.
The Commission adopted the Proposals on 14 February 2007. These Proposals together with the Commission’s Impact Assessment and their public consultation responses can be found on the Commission’s website.
For more information, please e-mail New.Approach@berr.gsi.gov.uk.
DIUS, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, is to hold an open day on Wednesday 3 December 2008 to discuss the implementation of the new European Regulation on accreditation and market surveillance.
EC Regulation 765/08 establishes a legal framework for accreditation throughout Europe. It requires each Member State to appoint a sole National Accreditation Body and lays down rules on the organisation and operation of accreditation of conformity assessment bodies in both the voluntary and regulated sectors.
DIUS is the government department that leads on accreditation and conformity assessment policy and has responsibility for implementing, in the UK, the changes that the Regulation requires. It has issued an information pack that identifies these changes and interprets some of the more complex provisions. This is available to download in PDF format, as well as a registration form for the open day, at: http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/standardisation/eu_regulation.html
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